Why do multicultural GLOs/organizations exist?

[xo_kathy]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I said they were two of many reasons, specifically, "a number of reasons including..." I'm not suggesting that MC sororities and NPC sororities don't have things in common. Certainly we do! Let me ask you a question to help answer yours...why did you join Chi Omega and not Theta Nu Xi?

Yes, I can read. Which is why I said in my post: "you said the above were two reasons you joined your org". I did not say they were the only reasons.

Why didn't I join your org? Well, firstly, they were not on my campus so I was not exposed to it. MCGLOs weren't yet too big when I was in school. Also, my mother is a Kappa, so I was familiar with NPC Greek life though was not "groomed" for it. I went through rush to see if NPC life at my school might be right for me, and I found that Chi Omega was what I wanted to be a part of.

I have no issue with MCGLOs. I agree they also have their niche.

However, you still have not answered my question:
what it is those women were looking for in their NPC orgs that you were "not at all" interested in?

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by xo_kathy

Yes, I can read. Which is why I said in my post: "you said the above were two reasons you joined your org". I did not say they were the only reasons.

Why didn't I join your org? Well, firstly, they were not on my campus so I was not exposed to it. MCGLOs weren't yet too big when I was in school. Also, my mother is a Kappa, so I was familiar with NPC Greek life though was not "groomed" for it. I went through rush to see if NPC life at my school might be right for me, and I found that Chi Omega was what I wanted to be a part of.

I have no issue with MCGLOs. I agree they also have their niche.

However, you still have not answered my question:
what it is those women were looking for in their NPC orgs that you were "not at all" interested in?

My two primary reasons for pursuing Theta Nu Xi over an NPC org were 1) the national push to create opportunities for and commit to hands-on community service (along with philanthropic giving) and 2) the GAP program. NPHC sororities offer both of those opportunities but there are other reasons I did not intently pursue an NPHC org. NPC sororities do not offer me all the things I desire that Theta Nu Xi does.

ETA: I've gone back through the thread and can't find where I said "not at all interested." I did say, "But they want things in a sorority that don't hold any interest for me at all." Now, this is coming from my NPC recruitment experience at UGA, but those "things" include, but are not limited to 1) living in a house with lots of other women, 2) being part of a huge chapter (as I've mentioned before, Theta Nu Xi discourages chapters larger than 30), 3) engaging in a vast number of social events (I wanted a mix of social and service), and 4) traditions that differ greatly from chapter to chapter within the same organization. Much of what was stressed and advertised during recruitment turned me off. I gave it a shot, though, because my mother is a Pi Phi.

It appears that you are trying to make me out to be a villain, but I don't understand why.

[shinerbock]

what is a GAP program

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

what is a GAP program

GAP is Graduate, Alumnae and Professional. We have undergrad and GAP chapters. Both have essentially the same standards and participate in similar events. GAP chapters are quite active, sometimes moreso than undergrad because they are fully operational year round. Theta Nu Xi was the first multicultural sorority to institute such a program for women who have already graduated with their bachelors degrees. Eligible women may be intiated directly into a GAP chapter. In fact, we have a National Board member who is responsible for such activity, the Director of GAP Intake.

[shinerbock]

I figured it was something along those lines. I must say, I don't think I'd like for my chapter to have that. I don't really think of graduate chapters as GLOs...but this is just my OPINION, before anyone gets all upset.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I figured it was something along those lines. I must say, I don't think I'd like for my chapter to have that. I don't really think of graduate chapters as GLOs...but this is just my OPINION, before anyone gets all upset.

Doesn't bother me! It seems like, for the most part, IFC/NPC groups offer lifelong networking and fellowship opportunities with a less formal structure than orgs like Theta Nu Xi. And, the primary focus is toward undergraduate chapters, with the option of involvement after graduation. Y'all have been around forever, so the system obviously works.

[shinerbock]

Well, and we do obviously have alumni clubs and organizations and such. But arent their groups who have graduate chapters, like they initiate people after they are out of college?

[Jimmy Choo]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

GAP is Graduate, Alumnae and Professional. We have undergrad and GAP chapters. Both have essentially the same standards and participate in similar events. GAP chapters are quite active, sometimes moreso than undergrad because they are fully operational year round. Theta Nu Xi was the first multicultural sorority to institute such a program for women who have already graduated with their bachelors degrees. Eligible women may be intiated directly into a GAP chapter. In fact, we have a National Board member who is responsible for such activity, the Director of GAP Intake.

It sounds like a GAP chapter is the same as an NPC alum group minus the fact that GAP chapter still recruits members whereas an NPC group is not recruiting new graduate members (unless they have AI's in the group). This may be simplifying things a bit though.

[shinerbock]

Well our alumni groups are nothing like the chapters she's talking about. Ours are mainly guys who have meetings every now and then, just to throw around ideas for how they can help the undergrad chapter. They generally are just groups of professional fraternity brothers who use the "alumni group" to stay connected and set up tee times.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by ecupidelta

It sounds like a GAP chapter is the same as an NPC alum group minus the fact that GAP chapter still recruits members whereas an NPC group is not recruiting new graduate members (unless they have AI's in the group). This may be simplifying things a bit though.

Perhaps...I think a full explanation would require me to describe the way our undergrad and GAP chapters function, what their standards are, etc. That's a WHOLE lotta typing!! Ok, here's a quick explanation - if you have an NPC alum group that mirrors the activities of an undergraduate chapter (as in, you really couldn't tell the difference between the two except that one doesn't do activities on a college campus), that's a fair comparison. I'm sure they're out there, but I'm not personally familiar with them.

[Jimmy Choo]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Perhaps...I think a full explanation would require me to describe the way our undergrad and GAP chapters function, what their standards are, etc. That's a WHOLE lotta typing!! Ok, here's a quick explanation - if you have an NPC alum group that mirrors the activities of an undergraduate chapter (as in, you really couldn't tell the difference between the two except that one doesn't do activities on a college campus), that's a fair comparison. I'm sure they're out there, but I'm not personally familiar with them.

Ok, so they are a little bit more different than I thought......
But that's not a bad thing, that's what makes each group different!

[xo_kathy]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

ETA: I've gone back through the thread and can't find where I said "not at all interested." I did say, "But they want things in a sorority that don't hold any interest for me at all."

It appears that you are trying to make me out to be a villain, but I don't understand why.

I quoted it right in my first post, but am sorry that I did not in my second. That being said, I don't really see a difference between "not at all interested" and "don't hold any interest for me at all", but maybe that's just me.

I'm not trying to make you a villian. But your posted about knowing Southern, beauty-pagenat type PNMs and then immediately said "they want things in a sorority that don't hold any interest for me at all". I put words in your mouth I guess, and I am sorry for that. But it's not that big of a strech to see why I thought you were trying to cover up an insult.

I know MCGLOs sometimes feel the NPC/NIC/IFC groups think they aren't "real" or what not, but I get a feeling from some of you all that you think you are so much better than us because you don't care about social aspects and are "for life". As a very active alumna of my organization, and after attending our recent Convention with hundreds of others just like me, we get a little sick of the stereotype.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by xo_kathy

I know MCGLOs sometimes feel the NPC/NIC/IFC groups think they aren't "real" or what not, but I get a feeling from some of you all that you think you are so much better than us because you don't care about social aspects and are "for life". As a very active alumna of my organization, and after attending our recent Convention with hundreds of others just like me, we get a little sick of the stereotype.

Ahh... I see. I don't think you'll find me to be the type of person to put down another org. There's no need to weaken another organization in an attempt to build up mine. That's as good as weakening the entire Greek system which hurts me as much as you.

I do see a difference in the way our respective groups treat the idea of lifetime membership and I prefer the way we do it. But, you prefer the way you do it, too! That's why we're not of the same type of org.

While it may be changing these days, I don't believe the majority of people join (have joined?) NPC sororities because of the opportunity of lifetime activity...lifetime membership, yes...but not activity. I'm seeing a new breed of NPC woman who really wants to know how she can support her organization for a lifetime. AI is becoming more visible as well. All of this is a testament to women like you who stress the importance of pitching in after graduation.

ETA: On the concern that I think I'm better than you or that my organization is better, I think it's better for me because it offers me things that your sorority can't offer me. That's the beauty of a diverse Greek community. Wouldn't you say the same for yourself? That your org gives you things Theta Nu Xi certainly can't because of the type of organization it is?

I was thinking back on my post in another thread about fraternity men not being interested in community service/philanthropy, but that everything to do with the individual and not the fraternity as a whole. I am disheartened when I see people who only care about themselves and they just use their organizations to help themselves rather than using the tools of the org to help others as well. That's why I think philanthropies are so important. They provide a means to help people who can't help themselves. And NPC orgs are in a position to really make an impact, so I know that the recipients of donations would suffer if not for y'all. What I take away from learning about the different philanthropies of NPC orgs is a sense of thousands and thousands of women saying, "We dedicate this money to help someone other than ourselves."

[starang21]

haysus christo, after 20 plus pages have we come to a consensus?

[L.O.C.K.]

Yea, I agree with Starang, lol, what a thread.

I personally come from a well-to-do background from the Philadelphia area and am Caucasian. I'm like the classic definition of a WASP.

However, I chose not to join a "white" fraternity because of how I was introduced to them. As a freshman, my roommates were rushing those organizations. All they did was party and drink. Nowhere did I see the committment to service and dedication to the ideals of their organizations which bothered me greatly.

I chose to join my organization, an Asian-Interest Cultural Fraternity, because it was created to educate other about culture and the importance of it as well as be a haven for Asian/Asian American men during college and beyond.

I totally agree with those people who say that NPC/NIC orgs are great orgs. I have a bunch of friends who are incredibly involved in the success and development of their organization. However, the majority of the members, in the fraternities at least, don't do the service and only do the partying. Are all organizations like this at every school? Hell no.

NIC/NPC organizations have very similar values save the specific cultural aspects that BGLOs, LGLOs, AGLOs, MCGLOs have. The reality is that there are more white people in this country. White people are at the top of the racial food chain. White people don't have to worry about racial profiling. White people aren't always expected to "speak for the race". These two factors (sheer numbers and the need for a haven for a specific community) is why I feel that a higher percentage of people in BGLOs, LGLOs, AGLOs, MCGLOs are committed to the organizational ideals in an active sense.

I really do not want people to think I have anything against NIC/NPC organizations. I feel the missions are amazing and I concur with all of them because they are very similar to non WGLO organizations. However, on my campus, many many many people in those organizations are not in it for the service or betterment of the community, but are in it for partying, which is against my values.

Are there people in BGLOs, LGLOs, AGLOs, MCGLOs in it just for the partying? Yes, of course, but I'd argue that they are a much smaller percentage (unfortunately) than in NIC/NPC organizations.

What matters to me is committment to the pillars/tenets of your organization on a consistent basis, even after graduation regardless of what "group" their organization serves. If you follow the mission set out by your Founders, then you will promote the ideals of your organization until the day you die.